A guide for any sporting club, in any code, at any level, to host their own Pride Cup.
pridecup.org.au Published by Pride Cup Ltd,Melbourne October 2018
© Pride Cup Ltd , 2018
This document was proudly supported by 4 Foreword 20 WE ARE community Hand | Cup Pride 5 Message from Co-founders 21 Game Day
23 Merchandise Book 6 WE ARE Pride Cup 24 Timeline Of The Pride Cup 7 What is Pride Cup? 8 Pride Cup’s Roots 25 WE ARE inclusion 9 Why Do We Need Pride Cup? 26 Pride In Any Sport
10 What’s In It For My Club? 27 Lasting Impact
11 Education 29 Evaluation
12 WE ARE diversity 30 Appendix 13 Where To Start? 31 LGBT+ Organisations
14 Get Organised 34 LGBT+ Community Definitions
15 Set Goals 35 Flags of the LGBTIQ Community
16 Recruit Volunteers 36 Business Sponsorship
17 Find Sponsorship 37 Media Release
18 Marketing And Promotion 38 References
3
Pride Hand | Cup Pride Book
No-one should be forced to Sport has a unique power to The St Kilda Football Club is choose between being themselves change hearts and minds, and enormously proud to support and the sport they love. Whether Pride Cup Australia continues to Pride Cup Australia. you’re a player, spectator, leave a lasting impact in sporting From humble beginnings with a volunteer or official, you should clubs all over our country. regional football club bravely feel safe and welcome at your As Commissioner for Gender and tackling homophobia, it has grown local sporting club. Sexuality I’ve had the pleasure of to inspire the now annual St Kilda I’ve seen first-hand how Pride Cup doing the coin toss at Pride games Pride Game in the AFL fixture. transforms grassroots clubs and for Australian Rules Football, Sport is a wonderful vehicle for unites communities with a simple soccer, netball and water polo. I’ve belonging and social inclusion and but powerful message of inclusion even dropped the puck for ice one that should be available to and acceptance, and this booklet hockey! On every occasion I’ve everyone. Helping clubs and is an essential tool to help more witnessed how celebrating leagues around Australia stage clubs come on board. LGBTIQ inclusion brings their own Pride Cups will ensure communities together and has a Pride Cup won the 2015 this important movement for profoundly positive impact on VicHealth Award for ‘Building LGBTIQ inclusion in sport players, spectators and officials. Health Through Sport’ and I am continues to gather momentum. so proud to see it soar to even I’m incredibly proud that this Equality is a key value at St Kilda greater heights. movement began in Victoria – the – we were proud to be the first equality state – and I look forward AFL club to march in team colours I congratulate Jason Ball and to more clubs spreading the at Pride March and are proud to James Lolicato and all involved in message of inclusion and diversity stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pride Cup journey so far. I as Pride Cup Australia continues Pride Cup as it expands across can’t wait to hear more stories of to grow. the country. the lives changed as a result of this incredible program. Ro Allen Matt Finnis Commissioner for Gender and CEO St Kilda Football Club Jerril Rechter Sexuality CEO VicHealth
4 We dedicate this handbook to the many communities Hand | Cup Pride whose Pride Cups have inspired us in ways we could
never have imagined when we were kids, struggling to Book come to terms with who we were in the world of sport.
What started as a 50 metre rainbow line on a Sporting clubs are the heart of local country footy ground has grown into a communities and when they show movement that transcends sport. It has leadership it has a powerful ripple effect. become a powerful symbol of hope and Pride Cups have harnessed the media acceptance, making a lasting impact far spotlight, putting LGBTIQ people and our beyond football ovals and netball courts. allies on the front page of regional papers like no other event. Pride Cup was born in Victoria and its message of equality for all has been brought More towns across Australia are eager to to life in ways that have brought bring the rainbow to their clubs and we’re communities together and continue to ready to help them. We founded Pride Cup inspire us. Australia to offer resources and education to empower those communities. We saw it in the stunning rainbow wings mural painted by a local artist on the side of In this handbook we’ve packaged the the post office in Yarra Glen’s main street. lessons, insights and personal stories from 14 Pride Cups around the country to help We saw it in the stories of LGBTIQ elevate this movement to a permanent place people who had grown up feeling in our national sporting landscape. isolated in their home town of Hamilton, Western Victoria, returning to be greeted Our vision is a world where LGBTIQ people with rainbow messages in every shop feel included and welcome, and we believe window. that sport has the power to help get us there. Thank you for joining us on this journey. And we saw it in Traralgon, Gippsland, when the local power station lit up its cooling James Lolicato and Jason Ball towers with rainbow lights providing a potent display of acceptance for anyone driving into the town.
5 WE ARE Pride Cup
6 Pride Cup began as a powerful gesture of mateship Hand | Cup Pride in a country footy club and has grown into a
national movement for change that unites Book communities. This celebration of diversity is transforming Pride Cup bridges this gap by offering a the sporting landscape through marquee visible display of hope and acceptance to rainbow-themed fixtures – the universal LGBTIQ players. It provides hands-on symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, education to help players, coaches and transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) officials to create inclusive sporting pride – sending a clear message that environments. everyone is welcome Pride Cup strengthens clubs, brings in sport. communities together and creates ripple Sporting clubs are the beating heart of local effects far beyond the playing field. communities, however research has found that discrimination and abuse has locked many LGBTIQ Australians out of the games they love.
7 When Jason Ball publicly came out as gay in 2012, his Hand | Cup Pride teammates from the Yarra Glen Football Netball Club
wanted to show him they had his back. This act of true Book mateship became the spearhead of a national campaign to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.
The team from country Victoria, came up It was an event that galvanised the entire with the idea to stage a Pride Cup. They community and became the inspiration for themed one of their home games around the now annual AFL Pride Game, first celebrating diversity and inclusion, with played between St Kilda and Sydney in players wearing rainbow jumpers, and the 2016, which turned Melbourne’s Etihad 50 metre lines painted in rainbow colours. Stadium into a sea of rainbows. Since hitting the national stage, communities across Australia have joined the movement, with Pride Cups being staged in clubs around Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
8 Sport brings people together, forging social bonds and Hand | Cup Pride providing significant mental and physical health benefits.
But discrimination remains a major barrier to participation Book for LGBTIQ people.
Research shows that: Transgender, gender diverse and intersex – 80% of Australians have experienced or people face unique barriers to participation witnessed homophobia in sport, in strictly gender-segregated sporting including slurs such as ‘faggot’ or ‘dyke’. environments. This is perpetuated by – 75% believe openly gay spectators would transphobia, negative stereotypes and not be safe at a sporting event, myths about how gender relates to – A staggering 87% of young gay men and physical strength and sporting ability. 75% of young gay women remain in the closet while playing sport. The effects of this kind of exclusion can be profound, contributing to the disproportionately high rates of mental health issues and suicide among LGBTIQ people.
Pride Cup’s powerful message of acceptance has been shown to reduce these feelings of isolation and bring LGBTIQ people back into sport by creating a safer, more inclusive environment.
‘I stopped playing footy because I routinely heard the words ‘faggot’ and ‘poofter’ on the field or in the stands and I was terrified of what would happen if my teammates found out I was gay. Years later, seeing players in rainbow jumpers at the Pride Cup moved me to tears. It was the first time in my life I felt like I belonged in the sporting world.’
Jason Ball Pride Cup Founder
9 Making your club more inclusive strengthens community Hand | Cup Pride bonds and makes your club more welcoming to a whole
new base of supporters, players and volunteers. Book
LGBTIQ Australians make up Bigger crowds can also lead to greater approximately 15% of the population and potential for attracting sponsorship will represent a significant proportion of opportunities. The economic flow-on your local community – (and their families). effect for the wider community is an increase in visitors spending money on Pride Cups have the ability to bring accommodation and hospitality, and in disparate communities together to form a local retail stores. united bond in showing acceptance and inclusion. By taking a leadership role in developing these valuable relationships, your club will Some Pride Cups have attracted crowds form stronger ties with local businesses, up to four times larger than a regular schools, media and local government. This game. can help to build a more secure financial Many of these were LGBTIQ people who future for your club, and create a said they felt welcome for the first time at a welcoming environment for generations to community sporting event. come.
‘Our supporters and players told us that Pride Cup was one of the best matches they’d ever been part of and it really brought the club together. We were blown away by the number of extra spectators we got on the day. To see same-sex couples holding hands on the boundary line for the first time made me so proud that our club had taken a leadership role in our league.’
David Kyle Gippsland Pride Cup Organiser
10 The power of the Pride Cup is in its Hand | Cup Pride
potential to change hearts and minds. Book Discrimination and hostility towards the Pride Cup players who have undergone LGBTIQ community often come from a this training report feeling more confident place of ignorance, not hatred. Education to intervene when overhearing can help break down barriers, smash homophobic language and are better stereotypes and make your club more equipped to make their club safer and welcoming. more welcoming.
Pride Cup Australia provides 30-minute Over 250 players from 12 clubs training sessions, which are best delivered completed evaluation forms following their before or after training for both teams in the Pride Cup education session. This image lead-up to your event. Using personal represents the increase in confidence they storytelling and real life scenarios, the felt to intervene in homophobic behaviour. education promotes understanding, and includes how to identify and challenge homophobic and transphobic language or behaviour. These training sessions will help your players, coaches and officials become champions for inclusion.
Ninety-minute sessions are offered for larger audiences or community forums.
‘Hearing first-hand about the harmful impact homophobic language can have on gay players and spectators was a real wake-up call for me as a coach and a father. The education that came with Pride Cup helped our players understand that they can make a difference. We’re a better club for it.’
Dean De Munk Coach, Yarra Glen Football Netball Club
11 WE ARE Diversity
12 Every Pride Cup is different and it’s important that the Hand | Cup Pride day reflects the unique character of your club and
community. Book
Each Pride Cup is unique, however there Get are some common guiding principles that Organised will help steer your club through the process from conception to execution.
Using knowledge we’ve gained from Set Pride Cups all over Australia, we’ve put Goals together some tips and ideas to help ensure your fixture is a success. Recruit Volunteers
Find Sponsorship
13 Pride Cup is, above all, a celebration, with the capacity to Hand | Cup Pride educate and unite communities. But it takes a team of
champions working behind the scenes to deliver results. Book
Start by putting together an organising Roles to consider include: committee to share the load and reduce the – Head organiser risk of volunteer ‘burnout’. Committee – Community liaison members can come from anywhere but we recommend having representation from: – Merchandise manager – Communications director – Competing clubs – Chair to oversee proceedings – Local council – Local business owners Getting the support of your local league can really help engage the wider sporting – Community leaders community, so you may want to invite a league – LGBTIQ organisations. representative to join the committee. Even if they can’t be directly involved, make sure you keep them updated with your progress.
Set out a timeline of tasks to be completed in the lead-up to match day. We recommend the The Hamilton Pride Cup invited planning process begins at least six months local LGBTIQ community members before the event. to be represented on their Pride Cup organising committee The committee can meet once a month and then every fortnight in the final six weeks. Use email to stay in touch, and appoint someone to take minutes at every meeting, ensuring action items are delegated to named committee members and minutes are shared with the whole group, including those unable to attend meetings.
‘The first year was a test for the board and the league. In year two we went in with a strong plan, we started organising earlier, we established a working committee, we involved both teams and we recruited volunteers. We felt like we were well prepared in year two and the results of the day confirmed that.’
David Cannizo Former CEO, Southern Football Netball League
14 What do you want to achieve with your Pride Cup? Once your Hand | Cup Pride
committee is assembled, the first task is to set clear goals. Book It’s important that your goals are specific, Example goals include: measurable, and realistic in order to boost – Crowd size – how many spectators your chances of meeting them. If your are you aiming for? targets are clear, it will make it easier for – Fundraising targets – how many you to measure your success in an new sponsors will be required to pay evaluation process after the event. for the event? Will you need to raise money through catering or merchandise? – Media coverage – what platforms can you leverage for publicity? – Social impact – How many local LGBTIQ groups/individuals can you connect with? How can you ensure they feel included and welcome?
15 Volunteers are the heart and soul of Pride Cup. From Hand | Cup Pride directing traffic in the car park to waiting tables at the pre-
match function, you’ll need a team of helpers to support the Book organising committee.
When recruiting volunteers, it’s important they understand why the event matters. The Yarra Valley Pride Cup recruited Share stories to capture why making your volunteers through a community club a more inclusive place will benefit the information night, which was LGBTIQ community and the wider club advertised on Facebook and through culture. a letter drop to local homes and businesses. The club was able to Members of your local community will have match the skills of people who a range of skills that could be useful, and turned up to the meeting to are often willing to offer their time if given appropriate Pride Cup tasks. the opportunity.
Volunteer role examples:
- Promoting the event locally dropping fliers
- Decorating local shops
- Parking cars on game day
- Set up / pack up clubrooms
- Working on fundraising food stalls
- Rubbish pick up
- Serving food or drinks at pre-match events
‘A critical part of our success was harnessing the skills of our players and supporters to help organise our Pride Cup. We had a social media and online marketing expert who ran our jersey auction online and set up a website to sell lunch tickets and raffle tickets, and we had a signwriter who volunteered to make signs and banners. There is likely to be a pool of talent at each club that could be tapped into if you put the word out there.’
Sally Crosswell Head organiser, Gold Coast Pride Cup
16 You don’t need a huge budget to host a Pride Cup but Hand | Cup Pride getting sponsors on board can help cover your costs or
even make a profit for your club. Book
We’ve found that the unique nature of the You can entice potential sponsors by event can open up the potential for new offering opportunities for exposure including: major and minor sponsorship opportunities. – Naming rights for the event Attracting sponsors can start with writing a – Logo on the Pride Cup jumper or match letter to local businesses asking if they ball would like to be involved, or tapping into your – Speaking slot at pre-match function existing networks of friends and professional – Pull-up banners at function or as contacts. Local residents who have a backdrop for media interviews personal connection to the LGBTIQ – Fence signage around ground community are often eager to show their – Table for their staff and guests at support. function – Logo on promotional posters/social media posts
See Appendix for an example letter to send to potential sponsors
17 Whether it’s creating a ‘buzz’ on social media or attracting Hand | Cup Pride attention from TV, radio, print and online journalists, the key
to attracting a crowd on the big day is promotion. Book
When coming up with a name for your Pride Things to remember: Cup think about using the name of the town, – Keep posts succinct and use photos and district or league that your game will be videos rather than just text. Look at the located in. If there is more than one Pride Pride Cup Instagram page for inspiration Cup in your area, brainstorm other creative (@pridecup) ways that you can name your event. – Create a Pride Cup hashtag on Twitter or Instagram and invite your followers to You don’t need to spend money on graphic post their pictures and stories using the designers or expensive branding. Once hashtag. you register to host a Pride Cup via our – Post regularly. People need to see website, we’ll create a logo and produce a content about an event several times poster for you to use in marketing material. before it clicks in their mind to investigate further. We’ll also create a branded Facebook event making your club and the opposition team – Make your content exciting and co-administrators so you can edit and invite dynamic so people in your community want share it. guests. – Be consistent across all your social media channels and always use the Social Media Pride Cup logo in your posts. These days, more people consume – Personal stories change hearts and information through social media channels minds – post stories or short videos than traditional media, so Facebook, from players, coaches or community Instagram and Twitter are essential ways to members about why Pride Cup matters. promote your event.
The Kew Pride Cup invited their premiership player Carter to share their story of coming out as transgender and their experience of inclusion in the sport they love, while the SFNL posted a video series of local LGBTIQ members of the community sharing their stories of acceptance and inclusion.
18 Traditional Media Hand | Cup Pride Ask your local sponsors if they want Local media outlets are always on the hunt to be involved in a photoshoot to help for new and interesting stories. In many promote the event and if you’re communities, Pride Cup is the first major Book working with a large organisation, LGBTIQ themed event in the area and this see if they have contacts within local makes it a unique selling point for local media. newspapers, TV and radio.
The key to attracting media attention is to – Give the editor plenty of notice in the provide a fresh angle and to make things as lead up to their print deadline. easy as possible for the journalist. – Ensure your players are aware of potential media coverage at training Tips for getting media coverage: session so you can have a unified – Get in contact with your local league message and a full team turnout. or council who may have a media or – Invite local radio stations to host an marketing contact to help with writing outside broadcast on game day. a media release. – Consider hiring a professional – Write a media release to distribute to photographer to capture the event. The TV, radio and local papers. images can be sent to media who could – Be sure to put the most newsworthy not attend. information at the top – including personal stories of LGBTIQ people linked to your club or any high profile See Appendix for an example guests appearing at Pride Cup – and media release to send to your local be sure to include dates, times, location media franchises. and links to social media accounts. – Offer photo opportunities such as Overwhelmingly, Pride Cup receives support pictures of players or supporters in from local communities. However, there may rainbow colours, and provide be a small minority of people who are suggestions for people the reporter can resistant to change. This is often an interview including club officials, players opportunity to educate and change hearts or sponsors. and minds, however if you do need help – If you are supplying your own managing any tensions that arise, contact images, use high quality photos with Pride Cup Australia for support and advice. necessary credits and captions. – Include Pride Cup dates and training times in your media release so local media can send a photographer if they want their own pictures.
19 WE ARE Community
20 There is no set way to stage a Pride Cup but Hand | Cup Pride visibility and inclusion are guiding principles to keep
in mind when planning your event. Book
This is a celebration of diversity, bringing Carnival Atmosphere together communities who have traditionally – Think of ways to engage the whole not mingled. For some LGBTIQ people it crowd, beyond watching the match. may be the first sporting event they have – Encourage families to attend by offering attended. Having visible symbols of Pride kid-friendly attractions such as face sends a strong message that everyone is painting, jumping castles or half-time welcome at your club. sporting activities.
This is a format that has worked for many Pride Cups: The Yarra Valley Pride Cup invited LGBTIQ sporting group Proud 2 Play to run inclusive sporting Rainbow Visibility games for LGBTIQ young people – Visible symbols of inclusion such as and their families. rainbow 50m lines, jumpers, socks, laces, armbands or goal umpire flags. – Invite local LGBTIQ groups, health – Consider flying the rainbow flag above organisations and youth groups to run your club for the day. stalls promoting their services. Examples – Pride Cups tend to culminate in one may include local headspace centres, centrepiece game – usually the senior local council groups and LGBTIQ support team – but try to include all men’s, services. women’s and junior teams and – Corporate sponsors may want to run incorporate rainbow colours into their stalls and offer giveaways such as matches. branded footballs, keyrings or water bottles. – Approach local businesses who may want to host stalls showcasing their products or produce. – Food trucks from the local area are a great way to attract spectators. You may want to charge them a flat fee to offset any losses from your canteen.
21 Pre-match Function Opening Ceremony Hand | Cup Pride – Most clubs hold an information breakfast – This usually takes place on the ground or lunch before the game to share and is a way to engage the whole
stories, and educate the wider crowd in proceedings. Book community on the importance of – Invite a local First Nations elder to give LGBTIQ inclusion in sport. a Welcome to Country address to the community The Queensland Pride Cup hosted a – Include short speeches from club ‘Chicken and Champagne’ lunch officials, sponsors, local celebrities or prior to their game with guest LGBTIQ members set the scene for speakers who shared their stories of the day and outlines Pride Cup’s inclusion in community sport and purpose. beyond. – Invite a local singer to perform the national anthem as teams line up. – Think about your audience – do you want it to be open to the public or invite-only? Trophy Presentation – Guests could include representatives – Presenting a Pride Cup trophy creates from other clubs in your league, a great photo opportunity and a LGBTIQ community members, natural way to wrap up the day. sponsors, local business owners, – Invite a high profile sports person school captains. or member of the LGBTI – Could you invite a high profile figure community to present the trophy. or well known local personality to MC – Consider also awarding a Pride medal the function? to the best player of the day. – Closing speeches are a great way to remind spectators of the impact the event has had and an opportunity to thank volunteers, players and sponsors. – Some Pride Cups have hosted post - match functions after their trophy presentations, continuing the celebration with jumper auctions, live music and catering.
22 The rainbow is the universal symbol of LGBTIQ pride and Hand | Cup Pride themed merchandise for players and supporters is a
great way to show support for the LGBTIQ community. Book
No matter how big or small your budget, We have a licensing arrangement with major you can add a splash of rainbow to your suppliers of sporting jumpers. If you want Pride Cup. From laces to jumpers, to buy rainbow guernseys for your teams. scarves to beanies, Pride Cup Australia Head to the Pride Cup website to view offers merchandise to suit your club’s the full range, or contact Pride Cup to needs. learn more about rainbow guernseys.
‘Our players wore rainbow socks during the game and the socks we had left over we sold straight away to spectators and family members. To see everyone kitted out in their rainbow colours was such a special moment.’
Sally Crosswell Lead organiser, Gold Coast Pride Cup 2018
23 Use the below checklist as a guide to see if you’re on the Hand | Cup Pride
right track when hosting your Pride Cup. Book
Pre-Game Day Download the Pride Cup Handbook
Club approval to host a pride cup
Touch base with your league or governing body to inform them about your pride cup
Find an opposition team
Form an organising committee
Have your first planning meeting with your organising committee
Register your Cup at Pridecup.org.au to get free branding and a Facebook event
Book in an education session via the Pride Cup website
Order Merchandise via the Pride Cup website
Contact local businesses and organisations to see if they will support your cup
Look for local government grants that could be applied for
Organise a marketing plan and contact your local paper and media outlets
Invite guests to attend your pre-match lunch
Invite local health and LGBTIQ organisations to come to your game
Paint your field rainbow and set up for the game day
Post-Game Day Host a post game celebration to celebrate the event and community
Evaluation & committee feedback
Start planning for your Pride Cup for next year
Send thankyou letters to your volunteers, sponsors and guest speakers
24 WE ARE Inclusion
25 Pride Cup started in a country football club but its founding Hand | Cup Pride principles of inclusion, acceptance and diversity are
universal and can be applied to any sporting code. Book
There is also no ‘right’ way to show your The event staged multiple games, featuring club’s support for the LGBTIQ community. both the professional clubs and affiliated Sporting clubs and leagues have adapted grassroots clubs, on a ‘Pride themed night’ their events to suit the unique attributes of with both an opening and closing ceremony, their code, ensuring sure they have the celebrating the LGBTIQ community. greatest impact while still sitting within the Community stalls were set up for LGBTIQ Pride Cup model. organisations and services to promote their resources and the money raised from the Some examples: event was donated to beyondblue. This Water Polo event has since become an annual fixture on Water Polo Australia hosted their inaugural the water polo calendar, travelling to a Pride Cup in 2016. Held during different state each year. Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival, which celebrates arts and culture within the Tennis LGBTIQ community, the fixture was In 2018, Traralgon Tennis Association hosted played between two Australian Water Polo its first Pride in Tennis Day. This event League sides, the Victorian Seals and the turned a fixtured competition day at the AGL Queensland Breakers. Loy Yang Traralgon International into a celebration of LGBTIQ inclusion. On court features included a rainbow families activity zonem a rainbow-themed opening ceremony and an exhibition match with celebrities from the LGBTIQ community played for the namesake Pride Cup.
26 Equality and inclusion are not just for one day of the year. It’s Hand | Cup Pride important to view Pride Cup as the start of the journey for
your club, not the end. Book
Ensuring you provide an ongoing safe and – Develop policies and procedures that welcoming environment for all players, specifically tackle discrimination against supporters, officials and volunteers LGBTIQ people and clearly outline the requires commitment and a clear vision club process for responding to about the kind of culture you want to complaints, including instigating disciplinary action if discrimination, promote all year round. bullying or harassment does occur. This will not only make your club more – Contact your state human rights inclusive, but will create powerful bonds commission to see if they have a with your local community and improve template document you can use. the health, wellbeing and social – Ensure that all members, staff and connection of LGBTIQ people for players are informed and signed off generations to come. on these policies and understand they are required to comply with Here are some helpful tips for them. strengthening clubs: – Provide details about how to get more information or to escalate complaints or Anti-Discrimination Policies concerns under the policy eg. – Take a zero tolerance stance on any contacting the club representative or discriminatory, homophobic or your state’s equal opportunities transphobic language, behaviour, commission. harassment or abuse.
‘Since our Gippsland Pride match I had some parents contact me to share their child’s story and their own difficult journey. After attending the Pride Cup they shared with me a heartfelt message that our actions are making a difference for their whole family. These parents probably don’t know what a powerful and engaging moment that discussion was equally for me. I was truly humbled by their kind words and inspired about what the future could really look like.’
David Kyle Gippsland Pride Cup organiser
27 LGBTIQ Inclusivity Training – Find out what local LGBTIQ+ services Hand | Cup Pride – Help ensure all your staff and club and supports there are in your area members understand why being so you can share these resources with people in your club LGBTIQ inclusive matters by holding Book annual training for players and officials. – Host a Proud 2 Play ‘come and try’ – Contact a local LGBTIQ organisation or session with your club to give LGBTIQ Pride Cup Australia for more information youth and rainbow families a safe place about training in your area. to trial your sport
Visibility Privacy & Confidentiality Publicly communicate your club’s stance on – If someone ‘comes out’ and opens up to you about their LGBTIQ status it’s LGBTIQ inclusion and its zero tolerance important to keep this information approach to discrimination with stickers, confidential unless given explicit resources posters and social media posts. consent to share it with other people. – Encourage club leaders to provide – It’s great if someone feels safe to be strong statements of inclusion for ‘out’ and open at your club but that LGBTIQ people doesn’t always mean they’re ‘out’ in – Model and encourage respectful other parts of their life communication at all levels of – If you need help to support an LGBTIQ your organisation person, please see the organisations – Promote the positive stories of your listed in the back of this guide for club’s LGBTIQ volunteers, players assistance or supporters throughout the year eg. in newsletters As a direct result of the Hamilton Pride Cup a local LGBTIQ support Community Engagement group was formed. The Pride Cup – Partner with and support local raised funds for the local support LGBTIQ community organisations group through the auctioning of – Participate in LGBTIQ community rainbow jumpers, and the club has events and promote them throughout continued to maintain a close your network working relationship with the group year on year.
28
Pride Hand | Cup Pride Book
The lessons learned after staging a Pride Cup can provide valuable information to help The organisers of the Yarra Valley you measure the benefits gained by your Pride Cup worked with their local club and community, and help in the council to create an online survey planning of any future events. tool which asked attendees to give their opinions of the event on an The evaluation process helps you iPad in exchange for a rainbow determine if you met the goals you set wristband. This allowed the early in the planning stages. organisers to determine what When evaluating your Pride Cup here percentage of the crowd identified as are some questions to consider: LGBTIQ, their feedback on the day, as well as how many people had – What proportion of the attendees traveled from out of the area to identified as LGBTIQ? attend – great data to get new – Did attendees appreciate the event? sponsors on board for the next year. – Will they come back to the event for another year? – Does this event give them a Ensure that you write individual thank heightened appreciation of their club ? you letters to organising committee members, volunteers, participating – Are there recommendations for the event in future years? clubs, community partners, stallholders and sponsors. You may – Was there a higher figure for your wish to share some of the positive bars, gates or canteen? outcomes from your Pride Cup – Did more people attend the event evaluation results in the letters. than your average games? – Were new connections created in terms of supporters, members, LGBTIQ community, volunteers, sponsors etc?
29 Appendix
30 Pride Hand | Cup Pride Australia wide Beyond Blue Beyond Blue works to address issues
Pride Cup associated with depression, anxiety Book disorders and related mental disorders, and Pride Cup harnesses the power of sport to to reduce associated stigma. send a strong message of hope, inclusion and acceptance to LGBTIQ+ athletes, W beyondblue.org.au officials and supporters.
W pridecup.org.au Q Life Q Life are a nation-wide LGBTIQ phone and Proud 2 Play web counselling service. Proud 2 Play is focused on creating pathways for the inclusion and participation W qlife.org.au of LGBTIQ youth in sport and recreation. W proud2play.org.au Victoria
Parents of Gender Diverse Victorian Equal Opportunity and Children Human Rights Commission The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Parents of Gender Diverse Children offers Rights Commission is an independent statutory peer support for parents of transgender and body. The Commission’s role is to educate gender diverse children. people about the rights and responsibilities.
W pdgc.org.au W humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au
Minus18 Team Melbourne Minus18 provides support, advocates, runs Team Melbourne is an umbrella organisation events and provides resources for LGBQI+ supporting Melbourne’s LGBTIQ-inclusive youth. sporting clubs.
W minus18.org.au W teammelbourne.org.au
Ygender Rainbow Network Ygender is peer led support and advocacy Empowering you to provide safer, more inclusive group for young transgender and gender services for young Same Sex Attracted, Intersex, diverse young people. Trans* and Gender Diverse Victorians.
W ygender.org.au W rainbownetwork.com.au
31 Pride Hand | Cup Pride Victoria Team Sydney Team Sydney is an umbrella organisation supporting Sydney’s LGBTIQ-inclusive Transgender Victoria Book sporting clubs. Founded in the late 1990s to address discrimination faced by trans people in W teamsydney.org.au Victoria.
W transgendervictoria.com Queensland
Thorne Harbour Health GLBN (Formerly VAC) Australia’s oldest HIV and Brisbane’s Gay and Lesbian Business AIDS organisation, offering services for the Network puts on regular networking and LGBTI community, such as counselling, social events. community support, alcohol and drug service, rapid HIV tests, and more. W glbn.org.au
W thorneharbour.org Open Doors An LGBTIQ youth service that provides drop-in services, counselling, outreach NSW workers and group activities. W opendoors.net.au
Twenty10 supporting young LGBTI people through WA case work, accommodation, drop-in services, counselling and group activities. Diverse Voices Diverse Voices (formerly GLWA) are a phone W twenty10.org.au and web-based counselling service for the LGBTIQ community.
Acon W glwa.org.au The AIDS Council of NSW is one of Australia’s largest LGBTI sexual health and Living Proud wellbeing organisations, with a variety of Providing support, information and resources to services the Western Australian LGBTI community.
W acon.org.au W livingproud.org.au
32 Pride Hand | Cup Pride
South Australia Working it out Tasmania’s gender, sexuality, and intersex BFriend status support and education service. Book Offering mentoring, support, information and referral for people coming out as LGBTIQ, W workingitout.org.au and their families.
W yourbestlife.org.au/services/bfriend Northern Territory Team Adelaide Team Adelaide is an umbrella organisation supporting Adelaide’s LGBTIQ-inclusive Northern Territory Aids Council sporting clubs. Works in the area of blood borne viruses, education and social support in the Northern W teamadelaide.org.au Territory.
Shine SA W ntahc.org.au/programs/lgbt-services Not-for-profit organisation providing sexual health education, early intervention, health promotion, clinical services and therapeutic counselling. ACT
W shinesa.org.au
TASMANIA AIDS action council The ACT’s peak HIV and AIDS health organisation also offers counselling, peer Rainbow Tasmania education, treatments, resources, and more. An information resource and an incorporated body of organisations W aidsaction.org.au dedicated to achieving and maintaining inclusion and equity for LGBTIQ people in Tasmania.
W rainbowtas.org
33 Sexuality Pronouns Hand | Cup Pride Sexual identity refers to who you may love or Pronouns are terms used by everyone. like. Commonly used gendered pronouns are
– Lesbian: A woman attracted to other She/Her and He/Him. A person that Book women. identifies as Transgender or Gender Diverse – Gay: A man attracted to other men. may prefer gender neutral pronouns such as – Bisexual: Attracted to more than one They/Them or their name. gender. Transgender and gender diverse individuals – Pansexual: Attracted to people may not always be visible or open with the regardless of their gender. status of their gender identity, therefore it is – Straight: A man attracted to women or a very important to make sure we are referring woman attracted to men. to them by the correct gender that they – Queer: A word for any sexuality that isn’t identify. To do this, we can politely ask our straight. participants about the pronouns that they use.We should not assume somebody’s Gender Identity pronouns just based on their appearance Gender identity refers to how somebody alone. may feel and who they are. Eg: Which Pronouns do you use? – Transgender: When your gender does not match the sex assigned to Or when introducing ourselves we may you at birth. use our pronouns to make them feel more – Cisgender: When your gender does accepted into our clubs community and match the sex assigned to you at birth. start the conversation. – Non-Binary: When your gender does Eg: Hello, my name is Erika and I use not fit into that of the gender binary she/her pronouns, what about yourself? (he/him or she/hers) The most common pronouns are those Intersex variations referring to the binary model of gender (He/ Someone born with natural variations in Him/ His or She/ Her/ Hers) however some hormones, chromosomes or sexual organs LGBTIQ individuals my feel that our most that differ from conventional ideas about common gender pronouns don’t accurately what it means to be female or male. represent their gender identity or expression. * These definitions are taken from the ‘All of us’ Resource
34 Pride Hand | Cup Pride
LGBT Book
Transgender
Bisexual
Intersex
There are also flags for other sub-groups within the LGBTIQ community, including asexual, pansexual, gender-fluid, non-binary and more.
35 An example sponsorship letter that was used in 2016 for the Hand | Cup Pride Yarra Valley Pride Cup and sent to local businesses within the
area. Book
Dear Business Owner,
We would like to invite you to be a part of the Pride Cup, held by the Yarra Glen Football Netball club to celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion in local sport.
The first of its kind, the Pride Cup began in 2014 when a local football club stood tall and held a ‘Pride game’ to support their first gay player when he ‘came out’ to his team mates. This sentiment of inclusion, understanding and true mateship has caught on, and our club is stepping up to support our LGBTIQ community.
Hosting a Pride Cup presents the opportunity for Yarra Glen and surrounding clubs to support our LGBTIQ players and friends, and to show everyone in local sport just how rewarding it is to be inclusive of diversity.
Pride Cup is one of the fastest growing LGBTIQ events on the Australian calendar – a day that brings people into our town, not only to watch some sport, but to wander the local stores and to experience all that our region has to offer. Pride Cups regularly attract approximately 1000 extra visitors, with many surveyed in 2017 stating they also gave business to a café or restaurant, and / or a local winery.
In past years, Pride Cup has also helped form partnerships between local government, local business and community groups. This exciting event has been shown to attract media coverage across print, television, radio and social media.
We are looking for partners to join us in creating this brilliant day of inclusion in sport. For more information on how your business can be involved, we invite you to contact us using the details below.
Kind Regards,
Pride Cup Working Group
36 An example media release that was used in 2016 for the Yarra Hand | Cup Pride
Valley Pride Cup. Book
Media Release – 14 April 2016 PRIDE CUP TO MARK THIRD YEAR CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE SPORT
Diversity and inclusion needs to be present in every level of sport, and the organisers of Pride Cup are calling on Australian sporting codes, at every level to take on this challenge.
Jason Ball, co-founder of Pride Cup Australia said: ‘Pride Cup has made strong progress in netball and the AFL, has inspired a national Pride Cup match between St Kilda and Sydney Swans, as well as events in other leagues but more needs to be done at every level,’
‘A lack of diversity in sport has a severe impact on young Australians, and sees them self- select themselves out of the wonderful range of sports that are available in our communities. The other negative of this equation is that Australian sports end up missing out on great talent.’
The Pride Cup celebrates diversity and inclusion in sport for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ).
This year’s match sees XXX take on XXX at the XXX Recreation Reserve – with the ground featuring a rainbow 50m line, the international symbol of gay pride. The Rainbow Network supports Pride Cup by providing pre-match diversity and inclusion training to players from both teams.
A Pride Cup luncheon for community leaders and fellow coaches will further spread the message of inclusion with speakers including Victoria’s Gender and Sexuality Commissioner Rowena Allen and openly gay Channel 9 News Presenter Peter Hitchener.
Commissioner Rowena Allen says that sporting clubs still present a major barrier for many people who identify as LGBTI.
‘There are many young Victorians who are missing out on the benefits that sport can provide because of their sexuality or gender,’ says Rowena.
‘We know that the attitudes of the Victorian community have changed, and as a community we are more supportive of LGBTI people. I would encourage anyone who runs a sporting club to access some of the great materials, training and education that will help them understand some of the issues that young people face.’
Pride Cup is being held on XX/XX/XX at XXXXX.
All enquiries to come through to XXX on the below details.
37 Pride Hand | Cup Pride DENISON, E. & KITCHEN, A. 2015. Out on the fields: the first international study on
homophobia in sport. Epub: Repucom. Book GORMAN, S., LUSHER, D. & REEVES, K. 2016. The Biggest Game In Town: An analysis of the AFL’s vilification policy. Sport in Society, Special Issue, 19, 1-2.
SYMONS, C., SBARAGLIA, M., HILLIER, L. & MITCHELL, A. 2010. Come out to play: The sports experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Victoria.
38 pridecup.org.au